Medcotec Raises £2.4m for Its Helyx Powder Valve
Medcotec, a life sciences company based in Daresbury, has raised £2.4 million to bring its Helyx valve to market. The round was led by NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, managed by Mercia Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. LYVA Labs, the Liverpool City Region Seed Fund and private investors also took part. The £10m Seed Fund belongs to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is managed by AXM Venture Capital.
The problem it solves
Drug makers move powdered ingredients between containers and machines, and this step is a common source of trouble. Production failures are estimated to cost the global pharmaceutical industry around £9 billion a year, and powder transfer systems are a key factor. The split-butterfly valves widely used today have a disc in the middle where powder can build up, raising the risk of blockages and contamination.
The Helyx valve takes a different approach. It is a full-bore design, so nothing gets in the way of the flow, and the powder stays sealed inside. Because it is single-use, it removes the time and cost of cleaning stainless steel equipment. Unlike some other full-bore systems, it can also cope with high pressure. The company says it is especially suited to shorter production runs.
Next steps
The money will pay for further trials, commercial launch and a bigger team. Medcotec currently employs four people and expects to add four more jobs over the next 12 months. It is already working with a leading pharmaceutical company and other manufacturers that use powder systems.
The business was founded by chief executive Emerson Mulvaney, who has more than 20 years in senior roles at medical, bioscience and technology firms, and entrepreneur Mike Taitt, co-founder of EZE Talk and Money Saver Telecom Group. Mulvaney said today's powder transfer systems often rely on technology around 20 years old, and that the new valve could change the industry.
Medcotec received pre-seed investment from LYVA Labs in June 2025 and went through its incubator and accelerator programmes. Cllr Paula Basnett, the Combined Authority's cabinet member for economic growth, said helping companies like this to start, scale and succeed is central to the region's growth plans.
Photo: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority